WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 121 NO. 39 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola girls, boys track teams win home invitational. PAGE 19
Cheese factories, brickyards and UFOs: Highlighting Farmington’s history CONTRIBUTED OSCEOLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
East Farmington, West Farmington and South Farmington, Malden, Crandall’s Corners, and Fighting Corners are some of the names it has been known by over the years. This historic presentation will focus on the early years of the area and the people who made it happen; the churches, the cemeteries, the schools, the farmers, the cheese factories, the businesses. Of course, the history wouldn’t be complete without information on the Air Base, the brickyards and the UFO sightings. History buffs and those who grew up in Farmington Township will be interested in the Osceola Historical Society’s presentation, “Farmington Township the Early Years” set for May 6, 6:30 p.m. at the Discovery Center. There will be a period for sharing your family’s memories. The Osceola Historical
Society is a non-profit organization created to preserve the history of Osceola and the surrounding areas. Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month: April, May, June, October and November. There is generally a summer picnic in August and an annual meeting in December. Membership is open to the public and all are welcome. The Osceola Historical Society owns the Emily Olson House on River Street and the historic Soo Line Depot on Depot Road. The depot is rented to the Minnesota Transportation Museum for the operation of the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway. Volunteer opportunities are available at both locations. And don’t forget about the Osceola Historical Society if you’re downsizing or cleaning out grandma’s house and have historical pictures or items to share. You can find the group online: facebook. com/Osceola.Historical. Society/
In absence of Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, donations requested BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
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Call it what you will. Farmington has been know by many names throughout the years: East Farmington, West Farmington and South Farmington, Malden, Crandall’s Corners and Fighting Corners.
For a second year in a row, Osceola will not participate in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Part of a nationwide collection effort by the National Association of Letter Carriers, the drive is typically held the second Saturday in May. Like last year, local carriers feel it has become too difficult to manage the collection alongside high volumes of mail including packages and advertisers. “In an ideal situation we have one route and a sub for each route,” said mail carrier Sandy Hopkins. “In normal years the carriers would run their route and the sub would get the food. It’s an immense amount of food. We would bring in 2,000 or 3,000 pounds of food in one day. Now with all the packages and advertisers, we don’t have the room and the man power.” For years, Stamp Out Hunger was the largest annual drive for Osceola’s food shelf, The Open Cupboard. Now, volunteers with the organization are wondering whether they’ll be able to make up for the loss. “We would receive over a ton of food from this one day,” said Open Cupboard volunteer Sherry Hanson. “Because of this decision, I am hoping that everyone will make an extra effort to drop off a donation of food or money at The Open Cupboard.” Rosanne Anderson, founder of The Open Cupboard, noted that any decline in food donations means higher grocery bills for the organization. The Open SEE FUND DRIVE, PAGE 9
Dementia-friendly community choir seeks members
Bridge inspection expected to end Friday
CONTRIBUTED SCV LIFELONG SINGERS
CONTRIBUTED MNDOT
Motorists should expect delays and intermittent slow traffic on Highway 243/Osceola Bridge between St. Croix Trail/ Highway 95 and Wisconsin Highway 35 as crews conduct a bridge inspection April 22-26, weather permitting. Beginning Monday, April 22, motorists will encounter alternating lane closures controlled by flaggers from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily on the Highway 243/ Osceola Bridge spanning the St. Croix River. Motorists are urged to plan ahead and allow more time to reach your destination. Crews expect to complete their inspection by 2 p.m., Friday, April 26. For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.
Folks are working in Polk and St. Croix counties to make their communities more dementia aware and dementia friendly. Some are using music as one way to accomplish that. This year, as part of the Second Annual Dementia Friendly Sunday, June 9, the Music by Heart community sing along will include a debut performance by the St. Croix Valley Lifelong Singers. The event begins at 1 p.m. in Lakefront Park, Hudson. Linda Iwaszko of Osceola is coordinating three rehearsals, one each in Dresser, Centuria and Amery, for anyone interested in being part of this unique choir. Iwaszko has directed the community choir in Osceola and a special needs choir. She has also worked in an area nursing home creating a residents choir.
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“Every generation has music they have grown up listening to and singing, in their homes, in the car, at Sunday school. It is something we all have in common. There isn’t an age group that is immune to music,” said Iwaszko. In her work with seniors, she has seen firsthand the impact of music, no matter their age, their mental or physical state. “Music sticks with us and helps us to reconnect. You might not be able to relate to other things, but the melodies and lyrics we grew up with come back.” The rehearsals are scheduled in Dresser at Peace Lutheran Church on April 25, at Fristad Lutheran Church in Centuria on May 16, and at Amery Congregational church on June 6, all from 6-7 p.m. Attendance at all the rehearsals is not required to participate in Music by Heart.
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SEE CHOIR, PAGE 9
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Interim village administrator Frank Pascarella swears in Travis Murphy at the village hall April 17.
Murphy joins Osceola Village Board New term begins BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Osceola’s village board appointed Travis Murphy to the board April 16. The seat opened the same day, as Jeromy Buberl took his seat as president in the new term. Buberl had a year SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
remaining as trustee. In the spring election, Murphy was one of three contenders for two trustee seats. Ultimately, those were won by Tim Anderson and incumbent Van Burch. Officials were also sworn in April 16, the start of the new term. Murphy took his oath at the village hall April 17.
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